Travel guide to Gambia

Gambia owns plenty of sights and attractions, but the country's greatest gem must be the people. Whether you sail the River Gambia or bask in the sun on a beach, you will meet open Gambians bidding a warm welcome to their beautiful country.

The best time to travel in Gambia is from November to March. At this time of year the weather is relatively cool and dry. The rainy season is from June to October; it is no problem to visit the country during this season, but some roads may have been washed away by the rain.

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Gambian Dalasi (D)

There are a few internet cafés in the cities. They can be hard to find and it is a good idea to ask at the local tourist information.

Some hotels charge 10 per cent extra for service, otherwise you normally add a 10 per cent tip yourself at both hotels and for taxi drivers.

There is no time difference between England and Gambia.

In Gambia they use the following weights and measures: Distance: The metric system

You should avoid taking pictures inside churches and mosques. Furthermore you should get permission before you photograph other people.

All water used for icecubes, drinking and brushing your teeth should be boiled before use.

In Gambia they use the following power source: 220 volt AC, 50 Hz.

There are no specific rules of conduct; people in Gambia are normally kind and very hospitable. With regard to dress code you should not wear mini skirts or shorts.

Stores are open from 9 am to 12 noon and from 2 pm to 5 pm (Monday-Thursday), and 9 am to 1 pm (Fridays and Saturdays). Offices are open from 8 am to 4 pm (Monday-Thursday) and from 8 am to 12.30 pm (Fridays). Banks are open from 8 am to 1 pm (Monday-Thursday) and from 8 am to 11 pm (Fridays).

It is possible to get Western food at most tourist hotels and restaurants. But you could also try the colourful Gambian cuisine, which usually means excellent food. In Gambia they often serve a lot of vegetables, rice and beans with different kinds of flesh. This flesh is usually seasoned with spices. Local fruits such as mango, bananas, grapefruit and oranges are a speciality and can be bought easily on the markets. With regard to beverages you can get good wine and reasonable beer. The local fruit juice is excellent.

Gambia is not suitable for disabled persons to travel in; almost no places are designed to receive disabled persons. Therefore, if you want to travel in Gambia the journey should be thoroughly planned with contact to all the places you want to visit.

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Camping is not widely known in Gambia. If you do come across it, it is on chartered tours.

With time quite a few good and comfortable hotels have turned up in Gambia. They are primarily situated in Banjul and along the coast. During the tourist season (November-May) the hotels are quickly fully booked for which reason it will be wise to book beforehand.

There are very few B&B's and guest houses in Gambia - see hostels.

There are no hostels in the cities. There are a few hostels along the River Gambia where you can stay overnight. The hostels often seem as small hotels or guest houses.

There are no domestic flights in Gambia; a few national parks offer sightseeing flights to show the park from above.

There are public bus connections to most towns in the country; the buses are often crammed.

There are no railways in Gambia.

There are many taxis in the cities and along the coast. It is easy to hail them in the streets.

Car rental companies are situated in the cities and along the coast.

There are many options for travelling on the River Gambia. A ferry departs from Barra Point to Banjul every second hour; once a week a ferry departs from Banjul to Basse. Otherwise there are several private charters who organise tours on the river.